Formulaic language in Byzantine book epigrams

A typology grounded in ritually-charged pragmatic functions

Abstract

This study examines the formulaic language of Byzantine book epigrams inscribed by scribes in the margins of manuscripts—texts that blend poetic creativity with documentation of practical details of manuscript production. While formulaicity in Greek historical texts has been studied in oral and administrative contexts, the formulaic nature of other texts like Byzantine book epigrams remains largely untheorised, particularly in relation to their prominent ritual dimensions. Focusing on the most formulaic subset of the Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams (DBBE), namely the ‘Scribe-related’ epigrams, this study proposes a new typological framework which classifies formulaic sequences according to their pragmatic functions. These include addresses, requests, thanksgivings, and formulae for representing individuals or recording practical details. Moving beyond models rooted in orality, plain cognitive processing, or epistolary convention, the analysis situates these formulae as ritualised communicative acts embedded in the socio-religious context of Byzantine manuscript culture. It demonstrates how these expressions mediated human-divine relations, reinforced communal identity, and participated in the broader performative framework of Christian devotion. By adopting function as the principal criterion for classification, the typology captures both the conventional and creative dimensions of formulaic language, revealing its role as a flexible yet structured medium for expressing piety, authorship, and communal belonging.